GPwho? GP2 is to be rebranded FIA's F2 series with immediate effect. Not a particularly surprising move seeing as they've wanted a F2 series for a while (indeed, when I went to Goodwood last year, they had an FIA tent which highlighted the different FIA feeder series. Where it listed F2 it simply had 'to be determined' or something like that besides it. Bit awkward!)

No word on whether GP3 will continue as GP3 or be otherwise rebranded; I assume it would remain as GP3 on the basis that there is already an FIA F3 series.

So does that mean they will get the Super License points for F2 or GP2. Or am I behind and that difference went away?

GPwho? GP2 is to be rebranded FIA's F2 series with immediate effect. Not a particularly surprising move seeing as they've wanted a F2 series for a while (indeed, when I went to Goodwood last year, they had an FIA tent which highlighted the different FIA feeder series. Where it listed F2 it simply had 'to be determined' or something like that besides it. Bit awkward!)

No word on whether GP3 will continue as GP3 or be otherwise rebranded; I assume it would remain as GP3 on the basis that there is already an FIA F3 series.

So does that mean they will get the Super License points for F2 or GP2. Or am I behind and that difference went away?

Well, last year it was GP2, so last year's drivers will get points for the GP2 results I guess.

As for GP3, I think they're in trouble now. The FIA is clear about this, they want a clear ladder: national F4, national F3, Euro F3, F2, F1. GP3 does not fit in their plans.

So the options... Either they merge with F3, possibly continuing with the GP3 car, or they just stop existing? Or GP3 is rebranded to F3, and the F3 car is used for F4 series? I don't know.

GPwho? GP2 is to be rebranded FIA's F2 series with immediate effect. Not a particularly surprising move seeing as they've wanted a F2 series for a while (indeed, when I went to Goodwood last year, they had an FIA tent which highlighted the different FIA feeder series. Where it listed F2 it simply had 'to be determined' or something like that besides it. Bit awkward!)

No word on whether GP3 will continue as GP3 or be otherwise rebranded; I assume it would remain as GP3 on the basis that there is already an FIA F3 series.

So does that mean they will get the Super License points for F2 or GP2. Or am I behind and that difference went away?

Well, last year it was GP2, so last year's drivers will get points for the GP2 results I guess.

As for GP3, I think they're in trouble now. The FIA is clear about this, they want a clear ladder: national F4, national F3, Euro F3, F2, F1. GP3 does not fit in their plans.

So the options... Either they merge with F3, possibly continuing with the GP3 car, or they just stop existing? Or GP3 is rebranded to F3, and the F3 car is used for F4 series? I don't know.

I would imagine that going forwards, they'll award super license points based on the F2 'payout' rather than what they were getting for GP2.

As for GP3, I hope that might run alongside F3 but as an international series, with F3 continuing in its current guise as a European-only series. So we would have the FIA F3 Championship (GP3) and the FIA European F3 Championship. However, I would expect one or the other to disappear, either to simply cease to exist or to merge into the other series.

I would imagine that going forwards, they'll award super license points based on the F2 'payout' rather than what they were getting for GP2.

Seems logical, obvious maybe, as it is now officially F2 and the points for F2 are known

Quote:

As for GP3, I hope that might run alongside F3 but as an international series, with F3 continuing in its current guise as a European-only series. So we would have the FIA F3 Championship (GP3) and the FIA European F3 Championship. However, I would expect one or the other to disappear, either to simply cease to exist or to merge into the other series.

Yeah I think to have two parallel F3 series (with different cars even) would go against their bid to make one clear ladder.

This is what I wrote on F1F, I'll put it here:

Quote:

Given that there isn’t a huge gap between F4 and F3 now, maybe it makes more sense to transfer the F3 car to F4 (or upgrade the new F4 car to F3 performance levels), and use the GP3 car in F3.

That way you’d have:– national F4 series with a +- 200HP car– European F3 series with the old +- 400HP GP3 car– F2 series with the old +- 600HP GP2 car– F1

It would also declutter the national series, where we now sometimes see a mix of national F4 and a few remaining national F3 series with no clear relation between them.

European F3 might then even go along with the F1 calendar as GP3 does now - to a certain extent - and lose the "European" name entirely.

I would imagine that going forwards, they'll award super license points based on the F2 'payout' rather than what they were getting for GP2.

Seems logical, obvious maybe, as it is now officially F2 and the points for F2 are known

Quote:

As for GP3, I hope that might run alongside F3 but as an international series, with F3 continuing in its current guise as a European-only series. So we would have the FIA F3 Championship (GP3) and the FIA European F3 Championship. However, I would expect one or the other to disappear, either to simply cease to exist or to merge into the other series.

Yeah I think to have two parallel F3 series (with different cars even) would go against their bid to make one clear ladder.

This is what I wrote on F1F, I'll put it here:

Quote:

Given that there isn’t a huge gap between F4 and F3 now, maybe it makes more sense to transfer the F3 car to F4 (or upgrade the new F4 car to F3 performance levels), and use the GP3 car in F3.

That way you’d have:– national F4 series with a +- 200HP car– European F3 series with the old +- 400HP GP3 car– F2 series with the old +- 600HP GP2 car– F1

It would also declutter the national series, where we now sometimes see a mix of national F4 and a few remaining national F3 series with no clear relation between them.

European F3 might then even go along with the F1 calendar as GP3 does now - to a certain extent - and lose the "European" name entirely.

Indy Lights action became drama as 2016 Pro Mazda Champion Aaron Telitz survived the last 3 minutes to keep pole position for Saturday's race 1 at St. Petersburg. Pato O'Ward's attempts to reclaim a fornt row start went south after hitting the wall causing a red flag with 3 minutes to go in the qualifying session that ended. By rule, Pato's 2 best times were deleted and thus he will start 9th. Kyle Kaiser will earn a front row start as a result followed by Indy Lights veteran Juan Piedrahita who will start alongside 2016 British Formula 3 champion Matheus Leist. Colton Herta will start inside row 3 alongside 2016 Indy Lights runner-up Santiago Urrutia.

The 1st Indy Lights event at St. Petersburg is now on the books with 2 newcomers taking wins.

In Race 1, 2016 Pro Mazda Champion Aaron Telitz dominated the event romping the field by 11 seconds followed by an impressive showing of the Andretti-Steinbrenner entry of Colton Herta who came in 2nd followed by Carlin's Neil Alberico taking the final podium spot. Shelby Blackstock and Mexican driver Pato O'Ward round up the top 5.

In Race 2, Colton Herta held off going flag-to-flag for his maiden win in the series. Thus making history by becoming the youngest winner at 16. Just 1 month shy of his 17th birthday. Belardi's Santiago Urrutia and Team Pelfrey driver Pato O'Ward have also taken the podium spots. Juncos Racing's Kyle Kaiser and Race 1 winner Aaron Telitz of Belardi round up the top 5.

Race 1 3rd-place finisher Neil Alberico would not complete a lap following an incident with Andretti Autosport driver Nico Jamin. With a win and a 2nd place finish, Colton Herta will head down to Alabama with a 10 point advantage over Aaron Telitz.

More teams are now heading down to the final weeks before the season opener in British F3 at Oulton Park. Hillspeed completes their line-up with German driver Nick Worm joining Jordan Cane and Chase Owen.

Crazy, a couple of years ago Formula Renault 3.5 was considered the best and most competitive feeder series out there. How times change.

This is down more to the driver license points system that favored FIA sanctioned series over series like FR3.5 than the actual appeal of the series itself.

There was also Renault's withdrawal of support for the series.

Yeah but I believe that was a direct consequence of the introduction of the license points system. Even on this forum we immediately said how this was going to be a HUGE blow to FR3.5, so Renault would have seen it coming as well.

With the British F3 season-opening weekend just 4 days away, Chris Dittmann Racing and Double R have completed their line-ups. CDR filled their last seat with Frenchman Tristan Charpentier, while Double R Racing just added Brazilian driver Guilherme Samaia.

Excited for the return of F2 today, can't wait for qualifying, I'm not very clued up on all the drivers but from my understanding Rowland and both Prema drivers at least are expected to be in the title fight.